Orlando Sex Abuse Lawyer

If you or someone you love is a survivor of sexual abuse, you may wonder what to do first. You will probably have many questions and need to know how you can move forward and take your life back.

Our Orlando sex abuse lawyers are here to assist you. The toll that sexual abuse takes on survivors’ health and sense of well-being from these despicable acts by perpetrators, who are often in a position of trust or authority, can have ripple effects for generations. Sexual abuse is particularly insidious because the abuse is often perpetrated by someone the survivor knows.

The Orlando sex abuse lawyers at Edwards Henderson are trusted attorneys who can help. Our skilled litigators are relentless about pursuing claims of abuse and getting justice, and our extensive experience advocating for sex abuse survivors gives us compassion when dealing with our clients and listening to their stories of survival. Schedule a free legal consultation with our team to learn more.

Defining Sexual Abuse

You no doubt hear the term sexual abuse in the news all the time, but there may be some confusion as to what the term actually means. According to the American Psychological Association, sexual abuse is defined as “unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force, making threats or taking advantage of victims not able to give consent.”

Consent happens when all parties agree to sexual activity. Anyone underage, incapacitated by drugs or alcohol, asleep, or unconscious cannot consent. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), “unequal power dynamic, such as engaging in sexual activity with an employee or student, also mean that consent cannot be freely given.”

Who Can File an Orlando Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

Survivors of sexual abuse may carry no visual injuries or scars. However, their pain is just as real, and they are entitled to justice and the opportunity to be made whole.

If you were subjected to any of the following, you may be able to file a lawsuit for sexual abuse:

• Rape
• Molestation as a child
• Groping
• Sexual assault by anyone in authority
• Sex trafficking
• Forced into a sexual act
• Exposed to sexual content
• Subjected to any sexual act to which you did not consent

Sexual abuse can affect anyone, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, or age. It can also take many shapes, all of which can be traumatizing. In addition to in-person acts, sexual abuse can also happen online through non-consensual sharing of sexual pictures, “sexting,” and more. If you or someone you know has experienced any of these offenses, you should seek legal advice.

Statutes of Limitations for Orlando Sex Abuse Lawsuits

The statutes of limitation, or the time in which you must file a lawsuit, vary from state to state. In Florida, you must file a civil sexual abuse lawsuit within seven years of turning 18 or within four years of discovering that abuse occurred.

Our sex abuse lawyers in Orlando are familiar with this nuanced area of the law. We are here to help ease any anxiety our clients may have about getting justice and taking back control of their lives.

Notable Sexual Abuse Verdicts for Clients of Edwards Henderson

In addition to the trauma of their abuse, survivors of sexual abuse may have trepidation or be intimidated by pursuing legal action against high-profile individuals or powerful companies and organizations. The Orlando sex abuse lawyers at Edwards Henderson are neither intimidated nor are we powerless. We are powerhouse lawyers experienced in trying sex abuse cases and we will leverage that experience to advocate for you. Holding powerful institutions and people accountable for the crimes they have committed is what we do every day.

Here are a few examples of the recent verdicts we have won for our clients:

• Baca v. Island Girl – $72,000,000
• Demella v. Kim and Riverside Hotel- $24,000,000
• Priscilla Rainey v. Jayceon Terrell Taylor a/k/a “The Game”- $7,100,000
• Jane Doe 101 v. Massage Envy Franchising, LLC $1,103,391.40

Why File an Orlando Sex Abuse Lawsuit?

You should feel safe everywhere. Public establishments and other institutions must maintain a duty of care. For example, this means that a daycare owner should make sure that their employees have extensive background checks with no history of sexual allegations or violence toward children. The owner of a movie theatre has a duty to ensure that the parking lot has adequate lighting and security measures. Churches should vet their clergy for allegations of inappropriate sexual activities or acts. These are reasonable standards. And when institutions and property owners breach their duty by failing to take these reasonable steps and you are harmed as a result, Edwards Henderson’s Orlando sex abuse lawyers are here for you.

Sexual abuse survivors may be able to recover compensation for the pain and suffering they endured as a result of the heinous crimes they experienced. A sexual abuse attorney can help you build a strong case on your behalf and fight for compensation for the past and future losses you have and will endure.

We understand that as a survivor, you may feel powerless. Your sense of well-being and freedom to live your life without fear is shattered by someone else’s vile act against you. Edwards Henderson is here to help you take your life back. After hundreds of sex abuse cases and successful verdicts for our clients, we are relentless in our mission to advocate for survivors and give voice to their anguish, and emotional and physical pain.

What to Do if You Think You May Be Eligible to File a Sex Abuse Lawsuit

Edwards Henderson is a national law firm that has won some of the largest verdicts in history. Let us be your voice.

Schedule a free and confidential legal consultation today to learn more about your legal rights. We represent sexual abuse survivors throughout Florida and beyond and are ready to help you.

Edwards Henderson is a nationally-recognized powerhouse litigation firm, dedicated to providing its clients with the highest quality legal services and, at the same time, making substantial, positive changes for the common good.

We are skilled litigators and experienced trial attorneys who have effectively pursued civil lawsuits against some of the most powerful individuals, organizations and big businesses on behalf of people, victims and small businesses. In fact, we specialize in handling cases where the power differential is greatest and we can use our experience and resources to even the playing field. Our recent trial results speak for themselves.